Grady starts and Murray debuts against Fiji

Mason Grady (pic: WRU / Huw Evans Picture Agency)

Mason Grady will start for Wales in their Autumn Nations Series opener against Fiji on Sunday.

Grady is among six Cardiff players in the starting XV, forming the back line with teammates Ben Thomas and Cameron Winnett.

The wing has started in all six of the Blue and Blacks' URC games so far this season, scoring one try against Scarlets.

Penarth-born hooker Evan Lloyd misses out, despite being named in Warren Gatland's 35-man squad.

But the main headline from the squad announcement sees uncapped Blair Murray making his Wales debut in the starting XV.

The New Zealand-born winger, who qualifies through his mother, has played just six games for Scarlets, but he is chosen ahead of the experienced Rio Dyer, who is also absent.

But Murray has hit the ground running at club level since joining from Canterbury in the summer, scoring two tries against the Bulls and Zebre last month.

Gareth Anscombe reclaims the number 10 jersey for the first time since last year's Rugby World Cup, with Ben Thomas moving to inside centre.

Tomos Williams starts at scrum-half after missing the summer tour to Australia, with returning pair Adam Beard and Will Rowlands in second row.

Captain Dewi Lake is at hooker, joined in the front row by Gareth Thomas and Archie Griffin, who is named despite being diagnosed with pericarditis.

Taine Plumtree is selected at blindside flanker, Tommy Reffell is at open-side and Aaron Wainwright completes the back row at number eight.

Max Llewellyn wins his third Wales cap, partnering Thomas in midfield.

Head coach Gatland said: "We have excellent competition in the squad, so it was a tough selection and there were some close calls but I think there’s a really nice balance for Sunday. We have some experienced players back alongside some exciting youngsters."

"We know how dangerous Fiji can be, so we’ve got to make sure that we bring physicality and are ruthless on Sunday. We need to be switched on for the full 80 minutes."

Six forwards make up the replacements bench, including World Cup co-captain Jac Morgan, hooker Ryan Elias and tight-head prop Keiron Assiratti, with Ellis Bevan and Sam Costelow as the stand-by backs.

Kick off at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff is at 1.40pm.

Wales XV to face Fiji: Cameron Winnett (Cardiff); Mason Grady (Cardiff), Max Llewellyn (Gloucester), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Blair Murray (Scarlets); Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester), Tomos Williams (Gloucester); Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Dewi Lake (captain, Ospreys), Archie Griffin (Bath), Will Rowlands (Racing 92), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Replacements:
 Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), James Botham (Cardiff), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Ellis Bevan (Cardiff), Sam Costelow (Scarlets).

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